If you're connecting to the Internet using mobile broadband, keep in mind that moving files to or from OneDrive involves data transmission. Syncing or sending data across a mobile broadband connection could result in extra charges. To learn more, see Managing data usage: OneDrive settings for metered connections below.

Add your files to OneDrive

You can add files from the local drive on your Surface to OneDrive through OneDrive.com or through File Explorer. Or, you can fetch files from another computer.

Move a file on your Surface to OneDrive

From File Explorer:

Select File Explorer

in the taskbar. You can also open File Explorer by pressing the Windows logo key +E.

Open the folder that has the files you want and select the files you want to move to OneDrive.

Right-click your selections and select Cut. Then right-click your OneDrive folder and select Paste. You also can drag the files you selected to the OneDrive folder to move them.

From OneDrive.com:

Go to OneDrive.com and sign in with the account you use to sign in to your Surface.

Fetch a file from another PC to OneDrive

Go to OneDrive.com and sign in with the account you use to sign in to your Surface.

Select the PC from the list of PCs.

Navigate to the files you want and select them. Then right-click and choose to Download the file to your Surface or Upload to OneDrive.

Save files, photos, and more to OneDrive

To save a file from a desktop app directly to OneDrive, choose OneDrive in the left panel of the Save As screen.

Share files

You can share entire folders or choose individual or groups of files and decide whether you want to let people only view the files or be able to edit them. You can also post links on social networks and get short URLs for sharing in text messages. For more info, see Share files and folders and change permissions.

Working when you’re offline

Files you save to OneDrive are available online at OneDrive.com and offline on your Surface. That means you can use them any time, even when you’re not connected to the Internet. When you reconnect, OneDrive updates the online versions with changes you made offline.

Choose which files to keep on your Surface

By default, your Surface maintains a copy of every OneDrive file and folder you have. If disk space is tight, you can stop syncing some of your folders under OneDrive. The folders you choose not to sync will be removed from your hard drive and won’t show up in File Explorer on your Surface, but you’ll still be able to access the files in them on OneDrive.com any time you have an Internet connection.

Select File Explorer

in the taskbar. You can also open File Explorer by pressing the Windows logo key +E.

Select OneDrive, then right-click any file or folder.

Note

If you don’t see any files or folders under OneDrive, nothing is being synced currently. Create or move any file or folder to OneDrive and right-click that file or folder.

Select Choose OneDrive folders to sync, then clear the check boxes for any folders you want to remove from your Surface.

Managing data usage: OneDrive settings for metered connections

If you have a Surface 3 (4G LTE), the following setting can help you manage your data usage:

Go to Start , and select Settings > Devices > Connected devices.

Turn off Download over metered connections.

Note

If you turn this off, your local OneDrive files and settings will not be synced until you connect with Wi-Fi.